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THE MEDIA NOV_2018 - TMOL

OOH IN Joburg
it suddenly regards as illegal in its view, irrespective of whether
it was legal in the first place.
One example of the industry’s frustration, is OOH advertising
rights for OR Tambo airport, which have been in limbo for
about four years. They were due to be overhauled in 2014,
and a tender was issued, but nothing has happened since, with
allegations of internal fraud and corruption. OR Tambo did not
respond to requests for an interview.
An industry player who did not wish to be named, said
billboards account for 50% of the industry, with the rest made
up of transit media such as buses, taxi ranks, train stations,
airports and malls, and some smaller niche opportunities in
places like golf courses and washrooms.
The DA’s bylaws have been challenged and the process is
essentially in limbo, he said. “The City is trapped in litigation
with certain media owners, so at face value, nothing has
changed on the ground and no illegal billboards have been
removed.”
He said Tshwane’s OOH was well managed, bylaws were
enforced, there was little or no illegal signage and there is a
well-administrated department at the municipality.
In Johannesburg, this is not the case and the “mess is largely
historic”.
While Durban has been good in terms of enforcing bylaws,
there are also cases under litigation, while Cape Town is strict
on enforcement.
He said there are still a number of “rogue players” in the
industry, and non-submission of applications is widespread.
“There is definitely an attitude that if everyone else does it, I will
too, and there are players that are specialists in litigation.
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